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restricted early action?

Hey guys I am thinking about applying early action at Stanford cause there program is really unique to me, but I saw how Stanford has restricted early action and I think it said how you couldnt apply to any where else early action. Is this true?

I was thinking about applying to UNC early action, but I will probably have to just apply regular for stanford if that restricted early action thing is true.

So i guess my question is, what exactly does restricted early action mean?

Replies to: restricted early action?

Restricted Early Action, sometimes called Single-Choice Early Action, means that you can apply early only to that school and nowhere else (with a few exceptions.)
From Stanford's website:

Students applying to Stanford's Restrictive/Single-Choice Early Action program may apply to:

-Any institution, public or private, under a non-binding Rolling Admission option;
-Public institutions under a non-binding Early Action program;
-Foreign colleges/universities on any application schedule;
-Institutions whose early application deadlines are a requirement for consideration for special academic programs or scholarships only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1; and to
-Institutions under an Interim Decision program only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1.

Since UNC is a public institution, you may apply early to both Stanford and UNC under the second exception above.

Check the websites of schools you want to apply to for the definitive word; it took me less than 5 minutes to find this information.

Restricted Early Action is essentially the same thing as Early Decision.

Not really, in that you are not bound to go if you are accepted. You have the same ability to decide by May 1, as with other EA plans, depending on other admissions and FA packages. You may apply Regular Decision anywhere. You just can't apply early to most other schools.

My question is, how do they enforce the REA "apply only EA to one school" methodology? REA is still non-binding, thus you are under no legal obligation to attend that school. What stops me from applying to MIT, Caltech, and Stanford all Early Action?

I am trying to grasp this concept and see if I can do exactly that (as they are my top 3).

I don't believe that it is just public schools- I think it has to be a non-binding and I also thought I read that if you need to apply by certain time for certain awards, honors or scholarships then you may also apply there. Your guidance counselor will be able to help you.

What stops me from applying to MIT, Caltech, and Stanford all Early Action?

First, the Common App won't let you do it electronically. If you choose MIT, it will allow Caltech, but not Stanford. If you choose Stanford, it'll block all other EA.

Of course, you could do it on paper. If your guidance counselor will send out your transcript & school reports to all three on time (in many schools the GC won't.

Aside from ethics, however, what makes you think that in this electronic age, anything remains secret? What makes you think that Stanford & Yale don't send lists of their EA applicants to other schools in their tier (Ivies, MIT, Caltech, etc.)? What makes you think that these electronic lists aren't computerized and matched with each others' lists? No, an admissions person isn't sitting there comparing the lists, but computers can with little trouble.

And ultimately, if you do get found out, admissions to all the schools could be revoked.

I didn't mean to make it sound like I was trying to work around some system. I literally did not know what the consequences were. After I posted, I found some further information that said that if Stanford finds that I applied EA to another school, both schools would automatically reject me. Its obvious now that I won't apply REA to stanford. When I posted, I was more curious about what legal mechanisms stood in place to enforce the REA policy. I now know that it is rejection from both schools. I wasn't trying to imply that I knew the consequences and was trying to get around it, sorry if it sounded like that.

Note that the rules for Yale's SCEA are slightly different. From the Yale website:

If you’re a Single-Choice Early Action applicant to Yale, you may only apply to another institution’s early admission program as follows:

* You may apply to any public university’s "rolling" admission program, but only if the decision is non-binding, meaning that you have until May 1 to respond.This exception does not apply to private institutions' rolling admissions programs.

* You may apply to a public institution in your home state, even if you will receive an admission decision prior to January 1, but only if the decision is non-binding, meaning that you have until May 1 to respond. This exception does not apply to private institutions.

* You may apply to a college with an early deadline for scholarship awards, but only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1.

* You may apply to another college’s "Round 2 Early Decision" program, but only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1. If you are admitted through another college’s "Round 2 Early Decision" binding program, you must then withdraw your application from Yale.

Classice Rocker beat me to it. So, what stops you from applying to MIT and Stanford? because it is just not worth cheating on the application process. They may not find out, but if they do, you lose, and for what? Also, even if you will not be blocked my the CA, you should be blocked by your counselor. If you are at a school with an excellent reputation, then the counselor will (rightfully) be protecting the schools reputation, and may blow the whistle on you. or perhaps a jealous classmate who resents you if you get accepted at both schools. You would then be out at Stanford and possibly MIT, too.

But, truly, the real reason for being honest is that it is the right thing to do, and not out of fear of being caught.

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